Quarter of workers do not feel valued 'at all'

Workers feel their achievements are not recognised and don't feel comfortable giving their opinions

A quarter (25%) of British workers feel they are not valued at all in their workplaces, according to research from B2B PR agency Lansons.

The Britain at Work report found that 40% of those surveyed feel their achievements are not recognised, and more than one-fifth (22%) do not feel comfortable giving their opinions at work.

Head of consultancy for Great Place to Work Charles Fair told HR magazine that employees often feel taken for granted. “There are two levels to recognition,” he said. “First, recognition from the organisation in the form of schemes and team meetings to discuss good work. Secondly, paying people fairly makes them feel valued."

Fair added that organisations need to "hold their side of the psychological contract", but that problems ofen come due to lack of line manager capability. "In the best organisations, line managers are good at recognising how to make staff feel valued," he said.

However, the report also found many employees are content at work, with 55% saying they have been given a pay rise in the last 12 months and just over a third (34%) receiving a bonus in the last 12 months.

Although 63% of workers expect to be in the same organisation in the next 12 months, the researchers noted that more than a quarter (27%) do not think they will be working at the same company in five years’ time.

Scott McKenzie, director of change and employee engagement at Lansons, said the report reveals a fairly satisfied UK workforce overall, but also a certain level of apathy.

“Generally speaking we get on well with our colleagues and think our working environment is a good place to be,” he said. “Two-thirds of us feel our jobs are as secure as they can be. [But] could this, perhaps, be perceived as complacency?"

He added: "The British workplace is doing all right. But that is simply not ambitious enough. A prouder, more engaged UK workforce would surely be more productive and profitable, adding significantly to the UK economy.”